Obama expected to pick Hagel as opponents prepare for a fight

White House officials and sources close to Hagel declined to confirm to The Cable that Hagel is the president's choice to replace Leon Panetta at the helm of the Pentagon, but several sources close to the process have told The Cable that the White House and Hagel have been in touch on a regular basis and that Hagel is indeed the expected pick. Decisions about the timing and logistics of the announcement are being finalized now.The Cable had previously confirmed that Hagel successfully completed the vetting process, as have Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy.

Meanwhile, Hagel's detractors are moving forward with their campaign against the nomination, which has been expanding ever since The Cable first reported in November that Hagel was in consideration for the Pentagon post. That campaign has included anonymous Senate aides calling Hagel an anti-Semite, the Washington Post editorial board writing that, "Chuck Hagel is not the right choice for defense secretary," and the Emergency Committee for Israel, which counts among its board members Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol, running a television ad criticizing Hagel's opposition to unilateral sanctions against Iran. "For secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel is not a responsible option," the ad claims.
"Even if one left aside Chuck Hagel's dangerous views on Iran and his unpleasant distaste for Israel and Jews, a dispassionate analyst would have to conclude that the case for Hagel is extraordinarily weak," Kristol wrote in an editorial Friday, in which he urged Obama to choose Carter, Flournoy, or Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.The Log Cabin Republicans took out a full page ad in the New York Times to oppose the potential Hagel nomination. Following the publication of the ad, the leader of the group, R. Clarke Cooper, resigned without explanation. He had previously expressed support for Hagel. Cooper and Hagel are both combat veterans.

Three Senate Republicans have come out firmly against Hagel's potential nomination, Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Dan Coats (R-IN), and Tom Coburn (R-OK). Cornyn said he can't vote for Hagel due to Hagel's "problem with Israel." Coats said Hagel "has had so much disrespect for the military." Coburn said Hagel "does not have the experience to manage a very large organization like the Pentagon."Other GOP senators have expressed reservations about Hagel without committing to a no vote. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who previously praised Hagel as a close and dear friend, suggested recently that Hagel is not a real Republican. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), said on Fox News Sunday, "There would be very little Republican support for his nomination. At the end of the day, there will be very few votes."

interview to the press. Not sure one can both oppose what Republicans did to Rice and suggest that what a Republican did to Hormel is not an equally bad thing without being highly selective about that which offends them. Either it is just fine for Republicans opposed to a nominee to use false, bigoted attacks or it is not. To suggest that McCain is bad for criticizing Rice but Hagel is fine although he went after Homel in far more directly bigoted terms which clearly suggested that all gay people are not fit to serve the US as diplomatic representatives is hypocritical in my opinion.

12. Republican 'reasons' are not what I am talking about.

I see many of the same Democrats who were furious about the Rice attacks excusing Hagel's far worse attacks on another diplomatic nominee. It shows that they think it is 'understandable' to speak bigoted crap about gay people at the top of their profession, but at the same time it is a terrible horror for anyone to question Rice about anything, 'cause she's married to a man.

14. There were plenty of people here who did not want Susan Rice

because of the Keystone investment factor. I went shaky on her myself because of it, but then figured it wasn't enough to take her out of the running. I don't think gender, sexuality or race entered into it, at least not very much. As for Hagel, nobody is excusing his objections to Hormel. But take the long view--I doubt it comes as a huge surprise that a Republican Senator from Nebraska would object to a gay activist as ambassador 15 years ago. It's disappointing that he couldn't rise above that way of thinking, but not a surprise at all--especially when he was being groomed for bigger things in the GOP at that time. And he did apologize, and pledge to do better by the LGBT community.

22. I read that he liked both candidates almost equally, but once it became clear

that Republicans were determined to trash Rice, it seems it was just that easy for him to go with Kerry, who obviously has more stature, and would be an easy confirmation (since the Repubs want his seat). I do think he was torn between the two, because he is close with Rice and trusts her--but he probably thought the risk of that seat was worth getting a widely-applauded, high-profile SoS.

4. Do we not have any Dems who can fill this post? nt

6. We do. But

when Hagel, a Republican calls for realistic cuts in military spending the GOP will have a hard time with it's usual schtick of calling him a traitor and blocking meaningful and needed spending cuts without suffering blow back for doing so.

As one who has been pretty critical of Obama in regards to military spending I actually applaud the president's choice in this matter.

15. Hagel doesn't give a rats ass if the GOP respects him

It will be public appearance & perception of the GOP attacking one of their own that makes him desirable for the position. Hopefully Americans who normally don't follow politics will take notice of this.

I am betting Hagel is still pissed about Iraq and is ready willing, and able to fight back at the Republican/MIC attacks on cuts to spending. And after Iraq he sure won't be eager to have us engage in war elsewhere without overwhelming just cause.

Sorry if my post was misconstrued as to have anyone think the GOP gives a damn about anyone's opinion other than their own.....

5. Chuck Hagel was an enlisted soldier and Dan Coats is a fucking retard.

7. I am One Who Thinks PBO Should Move Ahead with Hagel's Nomination if That's His Choice

I hate Seeing nominees withdraw because different factions don't approve of our president's choices. Republicans and neo cons are fighting Hagel's nomination because they don't think he's a real republican, meaning he's not a big war crazy wing nut I guess. Putting republicans in posts demonstrates that PBO is serving as the president of all America and I think that's a good thing for Dems now and in the future. Of course I don't agree with Hagel's past positions on a lot of things but he was better on the war issues than most Dems.

19. When his name first came up

I asked the very simple question - isn't there a Democrat who can do this? Why reward a party that has done nothing but obstruct and insult this President and every single person in the administration. Fuck the republicans. I'd give them nothing. And the HRC can do whatever it wants. My gay friends aren't so forgiving and think he just wants a job.

27. I saw a tweet today from a FP person which said - imagine trying to get Gates confirmed now. The RW

& Neocons would freak.

Robert Gates Says Israel Is an Ungrateful AllyJeffrey Goldberg

-snip-
But it was Robert M. Gates, the now-retired secretary of defense, who seemed most upset with Netanyahu. In a meeting of the National Security Council Principals Committee held not long before his retirement this summer, Gates coldly laid out the many steps the administration has taken to guarantee Israelís security -- access to top- quality weapons, assistance developing missile-defense systems, high-level intelligence sharing -- and then stated bluntly that the U.S. has received nothing in return, particularly with regard to the peace process.

Senior administration officials told me that Gates argued to the president directly that Netanyahu is not only ungrateful, but also endangering his country by refusing to grapple with Israelís growing isolation and with the demographic challenges it faces if it keeps control of the West Bank. According to these sources, Gatesís analysis met with no resistance from other members of the committee.

30. Pickin' a 'puke as SEC-DEF maybe kills many birds with one stone. If a Dem were picked,

'pukes would instantly paint BHO as weak on national security. They will anyway, but maybe BHO will get a few days before being so labeled. Besides, Dems in general seem to have a deathly fear of soiling their britches if labeled by 'pukes as weak on national security or soft on crime, or drugs, or terra.

29. I don't want him

32. I think Hagel is a good choice

People who bitch and moan about him being a Republican look back to what Lincoln did in his cabinet. Clinton also had a Republican SoD. If you accuse Obama of being a sellout, you are being a hypocrite not to say the same thing about Clinton. Most people won't criticize Clinton since he's considered the Democrat's goldenboy. As Steve Clements said on Maddow, that Hagel would be able to go into the Pentagon and cut the budget. Something that very badly is needed.